FDNY to Use Analytics That Combine Several Agency Databases

New York City Fire Department gives firefighters and fire inspectors real-time access to analytics and predictive models.

The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) is building a system to give firefighters and fire inspectors real-time access to analytics and predictive models in the field. The agency's vendor IBM will collect building-related data from several agencies, including the Department of Buildings, Department of City Planning and the Department of Environmental Protection, storing it in a central data warehouse.

The project aims to give firefighters more building details faster during fires. Analytics and predictive modeling should help fire inspectors better anticipate fire exposures, analyze possible impacts and improve processes that can minimize risks, according the FDNY.

"This technology will allow us to shift to a risk-based inspection system that will prevent fires and improve public safety," said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta.

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Timely information for firefighters commands equal priority, which New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg initiated. In August 2007, two firefighters died in the former Deutsche Bank building, which had been scheduled for demolition. Investigators blamed the deaths on a lack of timely information to responding firefighters. Bloomberg launched an initiative to prevent future similar events.

One set of queries from the system will keep responders from wasting time accessing several databases separately. The tool also gives inspector managers better criteria for monitoring inspector performance.